Cable preconnectorization apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method are described for preconnectorization of the ends of a cable for pulling through a standard diameter duct. The apparatus utilizes a connector consisting of three major parts: first and second wire organizers and a contact element means. The wire organizers are of a form factor sufficiently small and are organized such as to fit around the cable core without increasing the outside composite diameter of the cable. The apparatus further includes two forms of cable pulling devices.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 258,078, filed on Apr. 27,1981, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,428,115.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Although the idea of applying connectors at the factory or in the fieldthat could simply be plugged into mating connectors on an adjacentlength after installation has been considered for some time, it is onlyrecently that it has been considered practical. Wire joining is a verytime consuming operation, and when done, for example, in a manhole,under an aerial tent, or in a pit for buried cable, it is performedunder adverse conditions. Splicing, accordingly, is relatively slow, anderrors are commonly made which must be corrected later, or the wiresremain unusable.

Presently available preconnectorization devices are bulky, and thereforelimited in utility. Specifically, presently available preconnectorizedends cannot pass through any type of reel opening or small duct as isthe standard practice for other cables. When a large pair cable ispreconnectorized, the outside diameter of the cable is substantiallyincreased as a result of the connector being added to the dimensionallimits of the cable. As a result, preconnectorizing of both ends of thecable is currently practiced in aerial and direct buried plant, but notin the underground where manholes and duct runs are common.

As population grows and greater numbers of communication lines aredesired, large pair cable will be increasingly used. Further, when cableis to be pulled through underground ducts and connected at commonlocations such as manholes, the situation becomes further complicated.When the ducting leading to the manholes was orginially built in thepast, typically, no thought was given to use of large pair cable orpreconnectorization. In the typical case the standard duct has an insidediameter of only four inches. The standard large pair cable (e.g. 3600pair cable) has an outer diameter of 3.55 inches. As discussedpreviously, a pulling means is fitted around the cable to pull the cablethrough the duct. There must be sufficient clearance between the cablewith pulling means attached and the inside of the duct in order to pullthe cable to a manhole for connection to another preconnectorized cable.In terms of presently available preconnectorization devices, this meansthat pulling a standard large pair cable through a standard duct isimpractical. However, applicants have discovered a method for organizinga preconnectorized cable utilizing applicants' unique connector whichdoes not increase the outer diameter of the cable, thereby allowing itto be pulled through a standard duct.

The applicants have discovered apparatus for preconnectorizing cablecore wires in a simple, rapid and effective manner, resulting in a neatand compact assembly, which is easily traced and tested. Stripping ofinsulation and soldering of wire ends is avoided and a minimum of spaceis required.

The standard cable comprises a core of wires and a sheath covering andprotecting the core. The core is divided in binder groups of wires. Asis standard in preconnectorization art, the sheath is stripped back apredetermined distance from the end of the cable. Normally, the sheathis stripped back a little more than twice the expected splice lengthsince matched ends of cables will be joined by folding back beforesplicing together. The binder groups are divided into banks and arepreconnectorized.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, a maximum splicelength cannot be exceeded for a given manhole. Hence, not only must acable be of a maximum outer diameter after preconnectorization, but alsothe distance wherein the sheath is pulled back, the binder groupsdivided into banks and the cable preconnectorized, is limited by thesplice length possible. Typically, the maximum number of banks possiblyassuming standard length is two.

Upon the above recognition the applicants discovered a method fordividing the binder groups into the maximum number of partial banks andselecting the maximum number of binder groups to be in each partialbundle.

Given the maximum number of full banks to be two, applicants divide eachcable end into four quarter banks after stripping back the sheathapproximately twice the splice length. Each quarter bank containing apreselected number of binder groups is then attached to a uniquelydesigned wire organizer which does not exceed dimensional limitationsdiscussed more fully below. The binder groups of each quarter-bank arethen bundled to the successively diminishing core.

A key element in the success of the method is applicants' connectorconsisting of three major parts: first and second wire organizers and acontact element means. The wire organizers are of a form factorsufficiently small and are organized such as to fit around the cablecore radially and axially without increasing the outside compositediameter of the cable. The wire organizers are attached to correspondingcore wires in cables to be connected. The cables may then be pulledthrough the ducts and then may be later connected electrically by theseparate contact element means. The instant invention further includesunique devices connected to the preconnectorized cable for pulling saidcable through standard ducts.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is a primary object of the instant invention to provide method andapparatus for preconnectorizing the ends of a cable, said cable thenbeing capable of installation through underground ducts.

It is yet another object of the instant invention to provide anorganizer of form factor sufficiently small and being organized such asto fit around the cable core without increasing the outside compositediameter of the cable.

It is still another object of the instant invention to provide aconnector capable of live bridging.

It is even further an object of the instant invention to provide aconnector having readily accessible but environmentally sealed testpoints which may be used during construction to verify the connectors atthe time of placement, and later to convert the cable to other uses.

It is a further object of the instant invention to provide uniqueapparatus connectable to a preconnectorized cable for pulling said cableto equilibrate the loads on the cable jacket and the core to preventextension of one with respect to the other.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the purpose of the instant invention to provide method andapparatus for preconnectorizing the ends of a cable for use throughsmall diameter ducts. To accomplish this purpose, the instant inventionprovides a connector consisting of first and second wire organizers anda contact element means, said organizers being sufficiently small andbeing organized such as to fit around the cable core without increasingthe outside composite diameter of the cable.

The instant invention also provides cable pulling apparatus connected toa preconnectorized cable which will equilibrate the loads on the cablejacket and core to prevent extension of one with respect to the other.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the connector of the instantinvention prior to connection.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the connector of FIG. 1 after connectionand further including bridge means prior to its attachment to theconnector.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along section lines 3--3 in FIG.2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along section lines 4--4 in FIG.2.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a first embodiment of pulling apparatus for apreconnectorized cable.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a second preferred embodiment of pullingapparatus for a preconnectorized cable.

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating apreconnectorized cable.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a wire organizer in thepreconnectorized cable of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a graph of the dimensional limits of width and thickness for aparticular wire organizer which does not increase the outside diameterof a cable, based on a 3600 pair cable.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a set of organized core wires in thecable of FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 is a graph of the dimensional limits of core wires for aparticular width wire organizer and for a particular gauge wire, basedon 50 wires in each organizer.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of two preconnectorized cables at a commonlocation before connection.

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of the cables of FIG. 12 folded back inpreparation for connection.

FIG. 14 illustrates the preconnectorized cables of FIG. 12 connected intwo banks.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Description of the Connector

With continued reference to the drawing, FIG. 1 illustrates in explodedperspective view the connector shown generally at 20 comprising a firstwire organizer shown generally at 22, a second wire organizer showngenerally at 24 and a contact element means shown generally at 26. Firstwire organizer 22 is comprised of insulating members 28 and 30 whichhave been pre-applied to organize core wires such as wire 32 as will bediscussed further with respect to FIG. 3 of the drawing. Each of saidwire organizers has means for securing a plurality of core wires, forexample, a plurality of core wire sockets such as wire socket 34 whichextends generally through first wire organizer 22 from its front 36 toits back 38. Insulating members 28 and 30 are further provided with aplurality of leg openings such as leg opening 40 which extends from thetop 42 to the bottom 44 of first wire organizer 22. It is important tonote that the axis of each of said leg openings is generally normal tothe axis of a corresponding wire socket and communicates with acorresponding wire socket.

Second wire organizer 24 is preferably identical and/or complementary tofirst wire organizer 22 and comprises insulating members 46 and 48.Specifically, insulating member 48 may be substantially identical toinsulating member 28 and insulating member 46 may be substantiallyidentical to insulating member 30. Second wire organizer 24 is shown asbeing pre-applied to core wires such as wire 50 of another cable whereincore wires such as wire 50 and core wires such as wire 32 are to beconnected by the connector 20. First and second wire organizers 22 and24 are aligned into a mating relationship by male member 52 andcomplementary female recess 54. Thus it can be seen that insulatingmember 46 may be identical to insulating member 30 when reversed top tobottom. Leg openings such as leg opening 40 extend through insulatingmembers 46 and 48 the same as they do with respect to insulating members28 and 30. It can be seen with respect to insulating member 46 andtherefore with respect to insulating member 30 that all leg openings 40are provided with shoulder means 56 which partially block leg openings40 as will be discussed further with respect to FIG. 4. Although thefirst and second wire organizers have been described as being preferablyidentical and complementary for economy and ease of use, it isunderstood that variations in configuration are within the scope of theinvention which will provide communication between the leg openings andthe wire sockets to allow insertion of a contact element means whichwill secure wire organizers together and will electrically interconnectcore wires within the wire sockets.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, contact element means 26 isillustrated as comprising a plurality of crimpable generally C-shapedcontacts such as contact 58. Contact 58 is shown in FIG. 1 to be in anopen or uncrimped condition and is shown in FIG. 2 to be in an installedor crimped condition. Uncrimped contacts such as contact 58 are held inposition relative to each other by a film strip 60 of insulatingmaterial which has been coated on one side thereof with sealingmaterial. The sealing material which holds contacts such as contact 58in place also secures film strip 60 as shown in FIG. 2 to provide anenvironmental sealing layer. Contacts 58 are made from electricallyconductive material such as copper. Contacts 58 have first and secondends shown generally at 59 and 61. Contacts 58 are bifurcated at eachend at 62 to provide means to displace wire insulation from wires 32 and50. BiFurcations 62 at each end of contact 58 define respective pairs ofstaggered legs 64, 66, and 68, 70. It can be seen in FIG. 4 that theends of the legs, primarily legs 68 and 66, are provided with barb-likemeans 72 which make gripping contact with shoulder means 56 ofinsulating members 30 and 46. The pair of legs 64 and 66 of first end 59are uneven, leg 66 being substantially longer than leg 64. Similarly,the pair of legs 68 and 70 of second end 61 are uneven, leg 68 beingsubstantially longer than leg 70. The pairs of legs are, therefore,staggered with respect to each other and, when contact 58 is crimpedinto connected position as shown in FIG. 2, then 66 and 68 are inoverlapping relationship. The overlapping relationship of theabove-mentioned legs means that wire organizer 22 is secured to wireorganizer 24 by a contact 58 having a leg 66 which extends completelythrough wire organizer 22 and is secured to wire organizer 24. Likewiseleg 68 of contact 58 extends completely through the second wireorganizer 24 and becomes secured to the first wire organizer 22.

More generally stated, the first and second ends 59 and 61,respectively, provide the ability of the contacts to secure the wireorganizers together and to electrically interconnect the core wires.When the contact element means are clamped around the organizers, thefirst end 59 of each contact extends through the first wire organizer 22and grips the second wire organizer 24. The second end 61 of eachcontact extends through the second wire organizer 24 and grips the firstwire organizer 22. This relationship of contact ends and wire organizersis hereby defined as the interlocking and overlapping relationship.

It can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 that the leg openings such as legopening 40 are generally normal to and communicate with the axis of thewire sockets 34. It can likewise be seen that the crimping of contact 58over first and second wire organizers 22 and 24 causes the pairs of legs64, 66 and 68, 70 to displace the insulation on wire 32 and wire 50.Specifically, bifurcated first and second ends 59 and 61 of contact 58displace wire insulation to make electrical contact between wire 32 andwire 50. Identical contacts will likewise interconnect respective pairsof core wires organized in first and second wire organizers 22 and 24.It is within the scope of the invention to have the ends 59 and 61 notbe bifurcated and have the ends displace insulation from one side.

It can be seen in FIG. 3 that the first and second wire organizers 22and 24 securely grip wires 32 and 50 in wire sockets 34. This isaccomplished by projections 74 on the surfaces of insulating members 28,30, 46 and 48. The projections 74 displace insulation on wires 32 and 50to firmly grip the wires. Insulating members 28 and 30 are secured toeach other and insulating members 46 and 48 are secured to each other byan adhesive or equivalent mechanical means. It is further within thescope of the instant invention to utilize wire organizers such as 22 and24 which are one piece in construction and which have equivalent wiresocket securing means for securing a plurality of core wires. Although afive wire organizer has been illustrated, in actual application theorganizer accommodates 50 core wires as is the standard in the UnitedStates.

Live bridging is the ability to tap into a cable without loss ofservice. Apparatus of the instant invention provides for live bridgingand likewise provides for test points which may be used duringconstruction of cable systems to verify the connectors at the time ofplacement and latter to convert the cables to other uses. FIG. 2illustrates bridge means 76 which may be utilized to make conductivecontact between bridge wires such as bridge wire 78 and wires 32 and 50.Bridge means 76 is provided with conductive tangs such as tang 80 whichis connected to bridge wire 78. Conductive tang 80 is complementary withrespect to connector 20 as can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2. Specifically,contacts such as contact 58 have a narrowed body 82 between first andsecond ends 59 and 61 which is complementary to the opening inconductive tang 80. Llikewise the surfaces of insulating members 30 and46 are provided with tang recesses 84. Body 82 defines a means for livebridging of electrically interconnected core wire.

Tang 80 is capable of penetrating film strip 60 to make matingcomplementary contact with contact 58 within tang recess 84. It shouldbe noted in FIG. 1 that the first and second wire organizers 22 and 24and their respective insulating members are provided with a generalcontact recess 86 which is preferred in order to make a compactconnector. Contacts such as contact 58 are embedded within wireorganizers 22 and 24 for a flush configuration.

Contact element means 26 and its component contacts such as contact 58are positioned over the first and second wire organizers and crimpedinto contact position by use of tools (not shown). It is within thescope of the invention to crimp contacts such as 58 either individuallyor in gang.

Description of Towing Devices

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a unique device for pulling a preconnectorizedcable through a small duct. FIG. 5 illustrates pulling apparatus forcable 88 which has a plurality of wire organizers such as organizers 22or 24 as discussed earlier, bundled together into partial banks 92 oforganizers as will be discussed later. Towing eyelet 89 is connected bytensioning means 95 to the outside sheath of cable 88 by expandablebraid 91. In this device a section of the cable jacket or sheath isremoved exposing the core over which is located a clamp 90 which issimilar to a rubber band clamping means. Expandable braid 91 grips thesheath of cable 88 when said braid is tensioned, tending to force thecable sheath into further contact with clamp 90. Clamp 90 thereforetransfers a portion of the pulling load on the sheath of cable 88 to thecore by transferring pulling load to the clamp 90. Clamp 90 preventsextension of the cable sheath with respect to the core to equilibratethe loads on the cable sheath and core and thereby prevent extension ofone with respect to the other. It can be appreciated that the abovedescribed device is useful with any cable wherein extension of the cablesheath with respect to the core is of concern.

The device illustrated in FIG. 6 comprises an expandable braid means 94which when tensioned grips the peripheral binder groups of wires withinthe core of the cable in a space between the partial banks 92 of wireorganizers and the end of the stripped-away cable 88. Towing eyelet 93is connected by tensioning means 97 to the braid means 94 and outsidetowing plastic cap 96 which is shrunk down into secured contact with theoutside surface or sheath of cable 88. The cap 96 defines a clampingmeans which makes secured contact with the sheath of the cable. Thecombination of the internally applied expandable braiding means 94 andthe cap 96 balance load to equilibrate the loads on the cable sheath andthe core to prevent extension of one with respect to the other and anyconsequential damage to quarter banks of organizers. It can likewise beappreciated that the above described device is useful with any cablewherein extension of the cable sheath with respect to the core is ofconcern.

Description of the Method for Organizing

The method for organizing the binder groups into partial banks and forselecting the proper number of binder groups for each partial bank isdependent upon the dimensional limits of the wire organizer, the gaugeof wire used in the cable and the pair size number of the cable. Indetermining the dimensional limits of the wire organizer, it wasnecessary to make certain assumptions. As discussed above, applicantsfound that the number of partial-banks should be four, hereinafter,quarter-banks. Next applicants assume the most difficult practical case,namely, where the user desires to send a 3600 pair cable through a fourinch duct. Further, applicants assume that the 3600 pair cable has anoutside diameter of 3.55 inches (D_(cable) =3.55" and R_(cable) =1.775")with the jacketing material having a thickness of 0.150 leaving the corea diameter of 3.25" (D_(core) =3.25, R_(core) =1.625), as is standard inthe industry. Further, applicants assume no greater than 50 or 25 pairof core wires in each binder group as is standard in the United States.However, other countries such as Germany have only 20 pair in eachbinder group which is an easier case as will be appreciated hereinafter.

Finding the Dimensional Limits of the Wire Organizer

The form factor of the wire organizers in each case will be limited mostby the size permissible in the first quarter-bank since the only spaceavailable to the wire organizer without increasing the outer diameter ofthe cable is the space vacated by the stripped sheath 102 as shown andindicated by numeral 100 in FIG. 7. Additionally, the wire organizerscannot occupy the entire space, rather there must be sufficient spacefor the preconnectorized core wires. Thus the inside of the organizedcable in cross-section comprises a series of alternating wire organizersand core wires as shown in FIG. 7 and indicated by the numerals 22 and32, respectively.

Thus, as can be seen in FIG. 7, only wire organizers having a width of Wand a thickness of T may be used in the cable without increasing theoutside diameter of the cable. The relationship formed by the above isequivalent to the relationship of a chord to a circle, which may bewritten as: ##EQU1##

Substituting into the general formula for determining the maximumdimensional size of the cable organizer yields the following: ##EQU2##

Given the radius of the cable and the radius of the core, the width andthickness are then related. In the particular example where a 3600 paircable is used, the radius of the cable will typically be 1.775 inches,and the radius of the core will be no more than 1.625 inches. Thus, thewidth of the organizer W must be as follows: ##EQU3##

As can be seen in FIG. 9, this relationship is represented by line 104,which is the upper limit for the width and thickness of the wireorganizer.

Minimum Width of Wire Organizer

The wire organizer is designed to physically protect the core wiresinserted therein as previously discussed. Also as previously discussed,the wire organizer must permit electrical contact with the core wires,grip the core wires, and insulate the core wires from each other byproper spacing.

While the typical 3600 pair wire contains a 26 gauge core wire havingapproximately a diameter (d) of 0.02 inches, the wire organizer isdesigned to fit smaller pair cables such as those where the maximumconductor diameter typically expected is 22 gauge or 0.05 inches. Hence,applicant chooses the lower limit of the width of the wire organizer asno less than 0.05 inches.

Preferably, however, the width of the wire organizer is not less than0.25 inches, to accomplish the above cited objectives within a tolerablerange. The minimum width of the wire organizer is represented by line106 in FIG. 9.

Minimum Thickness of the Wire Organizer

As stated previously, the maximum diameter (d) of a particular conductorexpected for use with this type of cable end organizer is 0.05. Theminimum thickness of the wire organizers is represented by line 108 inFIG. 9.

Space Occupied by the Preconnectorized Core Wires

As stated previously, the maximum width of the wire organizers islimited by the length L and the number of rows N taken up by thepreconnected wires, as shown in FIG. 10.

The objective is for the connected wires to occupy the minimum spacepossible. In this endeavor, as shown in FIG. 10, the wires are placed inoverlapping fashion and squeezed together. There is an optimum number ofrows N which allow the minimum length L.

In order to find this minimum length L and optimum number of rows N, oneuses the following mathematical relationship: ##EQU4##

Given that the wire organizers take up an angle 2θ and a width W whilethe preconnectorized core wires take up a circumferential length L andan angle α, the number of wire organizers with connected core wires thatcan fit around the core N₁ is related as follows: ##EQU5##

As is standard in the industry, a particular pair size cable includes acore wire having a particular gauge or diameter (d). For instance, a3600 pair cable has a 26 gauge wire while other smaller pair cabletypically have larger core wire, namely 24 and 22 gauge. By thefollowing mathematical relationship, the optimum number of rows for 22,24 and 26 gauge core wire is 3, 4, and 5, respectively (assuming 50 corewires per binder group and consequently per organizer): ##EQU6##

Working out the second mathematical relationship yields a minimumpossible length L for each connected core wire binder group as follows:

26 gauge core wire=0.280,

24 gauge core wire=0.455,

22 gauge core wire=0.748.

Finding the row length yields the following α's for each gauge asfollows:

26 gauge core wire=10°,

24 gauge core wire=16°,

22 gauge core wire=26°.

Substituting for α yields the mathematical relationships for eachparticular core wire size as shown in FIG. 11.

It has been found that the minimum wire organizer width W to accomplishthe aforementioned objectives and purposes is approximately 0.25 inches.As can be seen from the graph in FIG. 11, the number of wire organizersin the first quarter-bank for 26 gauge wire is less than 21, for 24gauge wire the number of wire organizers in the first quarter-bank isless than 16, and for 22 gauge wire, the number of wire organizers inthe first quarter-bank is less than 12.

As a practical matter, the user would not want to place the maximumnumber of wire organizers around the core in the first quarter banksince it becomes increasingly difficult to work with such a large numberof binder groups. In the preferred embodiment, uses between 13 and 15wire organizers in the first quarter bank for a 3600 pair cable.

Thus, while the first quarter-bank as shown in FIG. 12 and denoted bythe numeral 92 could be as many as 20, one would practically limit thenumber of wire organizers to 14 because it is easier to work with asmaller number of wire organizers and, further, enough binder groupshave been removed from the core that the remaining quarter banks B1, C1,ad D1 may be connected without increasing the outside diameter of thecable. More particularly, quarter bank D1 of cable 88 may contain halfthe number of total binder groups less the binder groups connected inquarter-bank A1 without increasing the outside diameter of the cable aspreviously discussed.

The next problem to be solved is how may binder groups should beconnected in the second quarter bank, B1. As will be appreciated, thereis considerably more space in which to connect these binder groupsbecause up to 20 pairs of binder groups occupying the proportional spacehave already been connected in first quarter-bank A1 in addition to thespace vacated by the removed sheath. As a practical matter, there is noparticular problem in obtaining the required number of connected bindergroups in the second quarter-bank. However, because quarter bank C1 willhave even more space in which to connect the binder groups because morebinder groups will have been connected in B1, one connects approximatelyone-third of the one-half binder groups which will be organized in totalin B1 and C1 quarter-banks. For a 3600 pair cable, for example, oneconnects 28 binder groups in quarter bank B1, and 44 binder groups inquarter-bank C1.

As shown in FIG. 12, a second connected cable having four axially spacedapart and serially connected quarter-banks is pulled to a commonlocation.

As can be seen in FIG. 13 and as is standard in the industry, the cables88 and 108 are folded back and corresponding quarter-banks are matched.It will be noted that quarter banks A1 and D1 of cable 88 are matchedwith quarter banks C2 and B2 of cable 108 and quarter-banks B1 and C1 ofcable 88 are matched with quarter-banks D2 and A2 of cable 108 formingfull banks 110 and 112 as shown in FIG. 14.

When the banks are folded back and matched with the corresponding banksof the other cable, they are connected by means of a separate externalcrimp contact means, described previously.

While the instant invention has been described by reference to what isbelieved to be the most practical embodiments, it is understood that theinvention may embody other specific forms not departing from the spiritof the central characteristics of the invention. It should be understoodthat there are other embodiments which possess the qualities andcharacteristics which would generally function in the same manner andshould be considered within the scope of this invention. The presentembodiments therefore should be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beinglimited solely to the appended claims rather than the foregoingdescription and all equivalents thereto being intended to be embracedtherein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A connector for preconnectorizing and connectingcable core wires comprising:first and second wire organizers, each ofsaid wire organizers having means for securing a plurality of corewires; and a contact element means for securing said wire organizers toeach other, and for electrically interconnecting said core wires, saidcontact element means comprising a plurality of generally C-shapedcontacts, each of said contacts having first and second ends, saidcontact element means being clamped around the outside of saidorganizers, the first end of each contact extending through the firstwire organizer and gripping the second wire organizer, and the secondend of each contact extending through the second wire organizer andgripping the first wire organizer, said ends being in overlappingrelationship to secure the wire organizers to each other, the contactselectrically interconnecting said core wires.
 2. A device as in claim 1wherein each of said wire organizers is provided with a plurality ofcore wire sockets, and each of said wire organizers is provided with aplurality of leg openings therethrough, the axis of each of said legopenings being generally normal to the axis of a corresponding core wiresocket and communicating with a corresponding core wire socket, andwherein the ends of said C-shaped contacts extend through said legopenings.
 3. A device as in claim 2 wherein each end of each of saidC-shaped contacts are bifurcated and define pairs of legs which displacecore wire insulation therebetween and make electrical contact.
 4. Adevice as in claim 3 wherein each of said wire organizers have shouldermeans within their respective leg openings and wherein the legs of saidC-shaped contacts have barb-like means which make gripping contact withthe shoulder means of said wire organizers to secure the wire organizersto each other.
 5. A device as in claim 1 wherein said C-shaped contactshave a body between the ends of said C-shaped contacts defining meansfor live bridging of electrically interconnected core wires.